The Boat Name Game

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There's a certain power behind the name of a boat. You can tell a lot about the person at the helm and his or her intentions by just reading the boat's name. "The Black Pearl" brings a dark and mysterious vision to mind, while "Aquaholic" conjures up an entirely different expectation of what goes on aboard that vessel.

Boat names today tend to be more whimsical, romantic or humorous than boat names of yesteryear. Just take a look at BoatUS.com's most recent list of Top 10 boat names:

If you've recently purchased a boat and need to name it, or if you simply want to rename the boat you have, there's a lot to keep in mind. If you're the superstition type, there's the whole ritual you must go through that involves secret boxes and burning things. Some boaters still go through the motions today, so as to not anger the seas and bring themselves bad luck. (They also avoid giving boats a woman's name, as the seas get jealous, they say.)

On a more pragmatic note, a boat name can be funny - punny even - but keep in mind you may have to call the Coast Guard for help one day, and just envision yourself for a moment having to spell "Eggs-ta-Sea" with a straight face. Since vessels are mostly referred to by their name, here are some good rules-of-thumb to remember will coming up with a monicker you can live with for years to come:

• Keep it short – two to three words as the most.• If you're going to be funny, try to avoid getting too nutty with spelling.• You might be the life of the party, but a too wild and crazy name might bring some unwanted attention.• Go ahead, name it after your lady … the sea will get over it.• Realize that you can stick with the name she's got. In years past, boat owners would avoid changing the name so that the boat could keep its good standing in the industry, or simply to avoid bringing attention to the fact that it had changed hands.• Don't get stuck thinking you have to be original. Trust us, there's more than one "Aquaholic" out there.

Of course, all of that is not to say we don't love a good boat name that makes us chuckle. Here are 10 of the best ones we've come across: